Page 7 of Curvy Hostage Mate
I followed them as they walked through the city. At one point, they turned down a deserted street, and I realized with a jolt that I had an opportunity here. I should walk away, shouldstick to the plan, but I couldn’t. Not when Morgan was right in front of me.
Still, even with the disguise, I wanted to keep as many of my features invisible as possible. I pulled a cloth from my pocket and wrapped it around the lower half of my face before creeping up behind one of the guards.
With swift efficiency, I snapped the first guard’s neck before he even realized someone was behind him. Morgan whirled as she heard the body thump to the floor. Her eyes widened as she took several steps back, her mouth dropping in horror.
The other guard whirled around. He growled as he crouched, dropping into a fighter’s stance.
I made quick work of him, my claws slicing across his chest. The guard collapsed, leaving Morgan standing alone, pressed up against a nearby wall. She stared at me with fear and horror. When I approached, she shrank back.
“Come with me,” I said. “We don’t have much time.”
“You have no idea what you’re doing,” she babbled as she stared up at my masked face. “Leave me alone. Turn back around, and you might actually live.”
I paused, tilting my head in confusion. She looked terrified, and I realized with a jolt that she thought I was here for other reasons, not to rescue her.
I opened my mouth, about to tell her that we were on the same side and that she had nothing to worry about, when she let out an ear-piercing shriek.
Reacting on instinct, I lunged forward, my hand covering her mouth before the scream could carry too far. I pulled heragainst me as she tried to struggle and worm her way out of my grasp.
“Be quiet,” I snarled in her ear.
She ignored me, trying to shriek over my hand, until my other hand went to her throat, my claws emerging. She fell silent, though her breath was still ragged with fear, her chest rising and falling distractingly with each breath.
Looking around, knowing that I very may well have ruined the entire mission on an impulse, but there was no going back now. I’d made my decision, and I had to stick to it, or risk things getting even worse.
Thinking rapidly, I tried to run through my options, which weren’t many. I had no chance to get a hold of Trent or Nolan. I couldn’t hide her in the Underside, not for long enough. Which meant my only option was the portal. It wasn’t too far. It was a risk, but it was the only option I had.
Still covering Morgan’s mouth, I steered her through the deserted street toward the portal as she began writhing against me, trying and failing to break free.
Chapter 4 - Morgan
I screamed into his hand as the masked man dragged me through the streets. He knew the layout well enough to avoid the populated areas, and we never saw a single person.
My mind had gone blank with terror as I tried to worm my way out of his grasp. My heart thundered at triple speed. He held me tight, ignoring the struggles.
“Hold still,” he hissed in my ear. When I continued struggling, he gripped me tighter. “I’m trying to help you. I’m on your side.”
I wanted to laugh. Like I was going to believe that after what I had just seen him do to those two men before snatching me against my will. I hated Cain. Hated everything about him. But if this man was bold enough to steal me away, I didn’t know what else he’d do, how dangerous he was. Right now, I would rather be staying with the known danger, rather than being kidnapped and taken to wherever this stranger intended to drag me before doing God knew what to me.
As I continued to struggle, I heard him give an exasperated sigh. The hand not covering my mouth went to my neck, and I froze when I felt sharp claws poking at my skin again.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered in my ear. “But stop struggling, for crying out loud.”
I did. The feel of his claws is a compelling argument against fighting him. I followed along limply, letting him guide me, still not sure what was going on. Everything felt like a blur or a bad dream that I couldn’t wake up from.
I didn’t realize where he was taking me until I saw the portal, streaks of black and purple swirling inside it. Myeyes widened, and I tried to scream louder as I thrashed and struggled to get away, no longer caring about the claws. I didn’t know where he was taking me, but if he took me out of the Underside, I was in even more danger. No one would find me. Not Cain, not my sister, or anyone else who might come looking. If he took me out of here, I would be entirely at his mercy.
With a grunt of frustration, he loosened his grip on me. At first, I thought it was an accident, and I tried to break away. It wasn’t until he grabbed me by the waist and hauled me over his shoulder that I realized he was just trying to get a better hold of me. I let out an ear-piercing shriek as I kicked and thrashed again, but I knew it was already too late. He took three steps toward the portal, and I watched the Underside vanish as he stepped through, carrying me like a sack of potatoes.
My chest tightened as I was dragged through the portal, my breathing constricting. Then, light burst all around me, and I breathed fresh air for the first time in months. For a moment, I paused, forgetting to scream as I took in my surroundings.
I was out of the Underside.
I had never expected to see the blue sky ever again. I hadn’t expected to see green grass or smell the fresh scents of the forest. Even the winter chill, nipping at my skin through my too-flimsy clothing, couldn’t bother me.
My kidnapper dropped me on the ground and loomed over me. I tried to scramble away, feet digging into the dirt as I scurried across the ground.
“Don’t try to run,” he warned.
